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CDEfRIGUT DEPOSm 



LEGENDS 

OF THE 

JVAILUKU 



SECOND EDITION 



Copyright ig2o-ig2i by 

THE CHARLES R. FRAZIER COMPANY 

HONOLULU 

'Paradise of the 'Pacific 'J^rtnt 




DrtivMi by Will Herwig. 



Paradise Eng. 



Hina's Spirit Still Lives in the Mists of 
Rainbow Falls. 

OtC 2? 1^21 



l-v^ / 



LEGENDS 

OF THE 

IVAILUKU 



/TS told by old 

Hawaiians and 

done into the 

English tongue 

Illustrated by Charlotte 

Will Her^ig /| ^ 



&^^* 



^,^' 

^^?^/^ 



To remember our happ^ 

hours of story-telling, 

this printed fragment 

is in gratitude dedicated 

to my grandmother, 

Harriet Kama^anoenoe Hapau 



aCU630947 



THE WAILUKU. 

FED from the great watershed of Ha- 
waii far up the densely wooded' 
flanks of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea 
— often snow-capped in winter — the 
Wailuku River roars through the very 
center of Hilo, principal town of the 
Island of Hawaii. 

There are many vague stories as to 
why the Wailuku River was so named. 
In the Hawaiian tongue Wailuku means 
literally ''destroying water." 

In olden times before there were 
bridges and other safeguards the river 
wrought considerable damage to property 
and during the rainy season it took its 
toll of human lives. Legends connected 
with the Wailuku tend to confirm the be- 
lief that it was named for its violent 
habits. 

Long ago, so one legend goes, the 
much dreaded Kuna (dragon) blocked 
the gorge below Rainbow Falls with in- 
tent to back the waters up and drown the 
goddess Hina, who dwelt in the great 
cave for which the falls form a curtain. 
How her son, the demi-god Maui, came 
to the rescue, saved his mother, and finally 
hunted Kuna from his lair up the river 
and slew him, is told in the legend, "The 
Last of Kuna." 



Payo Five 



When Paoa, a very powerful god 
from Tahiti, came to visit Hawaii he 
built a grass hut and made his home on 
the long, low rock — now known as 
Maui's canoe — in the Wailuku near its 
mouth. 

Local gods viewed this selection of a 
homesite as foolhardy, but Paoa was 
unaware of the sudden and rapid rise the 
river made when heavy rains and cloud- 
bursts loosed their torrents high upon 
the slopes of Mauna Kea. Hina, god- 
dess of the river, warned the visitor of 
his danger and told him how the angry 
waters would sweep everything before 
them. In the legend, "The Coming of 
Paoa," you will find his answer. 

In those days there must have been 
much more water in the river than there 
is today, for a certain amount is now 
diverted above Rainbow Falls for water 
power. 

In spite of the decreased volume the 
river is still very violent and treacherous. 
At high water big boulders are clumsily 
rolled down stream and when the river 
is unusually high even trees are torn from 
the banks and carried out to sea. 

So the Wailuku still lives up to its 
name. Destroying Water. 



HOW HILO WAS NAMED. 

KING KAMEHAMEHA the Great 
was a very famous warrior. His 
chief ambition, which he lived to realize, 
was to become sole ruler of all the Ha- 
waiian Islands. Naturally he had nu- 
merous enemies, and he never remained 
long in one place for fear some of them 
might learn of his whereabouts and 
attack him. 

One time, when he was encamped 
near the mouth of the Wailuku, he 
planned a quiet visit to what is now 
known as Reed's Island, where lived a 
particular friend of his. As this friend 
was a powerful chief, Kamehameha felt 
safe in going to him without his usual 
warrior bodyguard. 

Before leaving camp he called his serv- 
ants to him and told them to stand 
watch over his canoe, that it might not 
be stolen or carried away by the tide. 
This they promised faithfully to do. 

As time passed and the king did not 
return or send word to his servants they 
grew uneasy about him. Perhaps he 
might have been ambushed, they rea- 
soned; or more likely fallen into one of 
the caverns formed by ancient lava 
flows and which are often treacherously 
concealed by a thin, brittle crust that 



Pajit' Sever 



a man of Kamehameha's hulk might 
easily break through. Much as they 
feared for the king's safety, the servants 
dared not leave the canoe unguarded. 
They were in a quandary indeed. 

"I know what we can dol" cried one 
of the men. "We can make a rope of 
ti leaves and tie the canoe so it cannot 
drift away." 

"Make a rope," queried another, 
"how can we do that?" 

"Simple enough," answered the first 
speaker. "I'll show you. Take the ti 
leaves and fasten them together. First 
you make two chains of leaves — like 
this — and then twist each one. When 
you place them together they will nat- 
urally twine about each other and you 
have a very strong rope. Such twisting 
is called hilo." 

"I've never seen it done," admitted his 
fellow sentry, "but it looks very simple.*' 

"And so it is," went on the resource- 
ful one, as he rapidly t./isted the ti 
leaves into serviceable ropes. "Now," 
he concluded, "these are plenty long 
enough. Let us make the canoe fast to 
the beach." 

And taking their ropes to the canoe 
they tied it securely to that point of land 
— known to the old Hawaiians as Kai- 



'age Eight 



paaloa — near the mouth of the river 
where the lighthouse stands today. 
Then they set out in search of the king. 

Only a short way up the river they met 
Kamehameha returning unharmed. Ig- 
noring the spirit of their intent in absent- 
ing themselves from their post of duty, 
the king demanded: 

"But where is my canoe? What have 
you done with my canoe? You prom- 
ised to guard it. By now it may have 
drifted out to sea or been stolen!" 

"We tied it with ti ropes," answered 
the servant who had woven them. 

"Ti ropes!" roared his majesty. 
"Why, no one here knows how to make 
ropes like that. The only place they do 
know is at Waipio. How did you 
learn?" 

"I came to you from there," the man 
answered. 

"Oh, and that is where you learned. 
Well and good. Hereafter this place 
shall be called Hilo." 

And so it has been. The town at 
the mouth of the Wailuku has since that 
day been known by the Hawaiian word 
meaning "to twist." 



MAUI CONQUERS THE SUN. 

HINA, the goddess who in the long 
ago made her home in the great 
cave beneath Rainbow Falls, was es- 
pecially gifted in the art of tapa making. 
So wonderfully artistic and fine were 
the tapas of Hina that people journeyed 
from all parts of the Island to view them 
and to covet. Even across the mighty 
shoulders of Mauna Loa from Kona and 
Kailua and down the rugged Hamakua 
Coast from Waipio they came, and from 
the other islands as well. 

It was hard, laboring over the tapa 
every day, and especially hunting for the 
olona which Hina sometimes used. But 
she used also the bark of the mamake 
and wauke trees, which were more plen- 
tiful and very good for tapa. 

Interested though he was in the manu- 
facture and decoration of this beautiful 
paper-cloth, Hina's son, the demi-god 
Maui, held aloof from the work. In the 
making of tapa man's hand was tabu, 
yet he could not forbear an occasional 
suggestion when his mother created mys- 
tic designs for decoration of her work. 

After the tapa was made it had to be 
placed for the Sun to dry, but by the 
time Hina would reach the drying 
frames, the Sun was far up in the 




Di.iun l)\ Will ilctwi,^ 



I'.u.i.li^c Kns. 



As Maui Reached the Eastern Rim the Sun 
Was Disappearing. 



sky. All too soon long shadows would 
creep across the stream below Rainbow 
Falls, warning her that night approached 
and that it was time to take in her tapa. 

Quite often the dyes with which the 
designs were painted on the tapa were 
not entirely dry when the tapa was tak- 
en in, and many fine pieces were smeared 
and ruined. Days were short in the 
narrow walled-in river gorge and the Sun 
shone directly on the tapa for only a few 
hours, passing then beyond the high 
western wall, and gloom would settle 
about the cave, growing deeper with 
oncoming night. 

It grieved Maui to see his mother's 
tapa so often spoiled, so he besought 
the Sun to go more slowly. For one or 
two days he did moderate his pace and 
Hina rejoiced in the lovely tapas she 
was able to make. But soon the heedless 
Sun hurried past again as fast as ever, 
entirely forgetting his promise to Maui. 

So Maui determined to exact a last- 
ing agreement with the Sun, and set out 
in his canoe for Maui, the Island which 
bears his name and on which is situated 
Haleakala, today the greatest extinct 
crater in the world and in olden time the 
Home of the Sun. Maui hoped to 
catch him there. 

As Maui reached the eastern rim of 



Page Twelve 



Haleakala the Sun was just disappear- 
ing over the other side; but Maui knew 
he would return in the morning, so he 
prepared to spend the night in waiting. 

As the Sun returned to his home next 
morning Maui caught him by his rays, 
which the Sun used as legs, and, wield- 
ing the magic club which he always 
carried on his many expeditions, broke 
several of them. Thus crippled, the Sun 
was forced to stay for parley, though 
crying out in alarm that he must be let 
go, as there was no time to waste. Day 
must be carried westward. But Maui 
hung on and reminded the Sun of his 
promises. 

After much argument they agreed to 
compromise; so the Sun promised to go 
slowly six months in the year and then, 
for the remaining six months, to hurry as 
fast as before. 

Maui was content with this arrange- 
ment and sure also that the Sun would 
not again forget, for he had crippled him 
considerably. It would take some time, 
he thught, for the Sun's broken rays .to 
mend. 

So, very well pleased with his suc- 
cess, Maui permitted the Sun to proceed 
on his journey, while himself he prepared 
to return with all speed, bearing the good 
news to his mother. 



Pago Thirteen 



KUNA, THE DRAGON. 

FAR above Rainbow Falls there lived 
a powerful kupua named Kuna. 
Kuna had the form of a monstrous 
dragon, unlike anything in these islands 
today. 

Kuna often tormented the goddess 
Hina in her rocky cave behind Rainbow 
Falls by sending over great torrents of 
water or by rolling logs and boulders 
down the stream. Quite often he would 
block the stream below the falls with 
sediment sent down by freshets during 
the rainy seasons. 

But Hina was well protected. Her 
cave was large and the misty cloud of 
spray from the falling waters helped to 
conceal it. So in spite of the frequent 
floods and many threats from Kuna, 
Hina paid him not the slightest atten- 
tion, but with her songs and gay laughter 
lightly mocked him as she worked. 

On many days Hina was quite alone, 
while her eldest son, the demi-god Maui, 
was away on one of his numerous expe- 
ditions. Even then she did not mind 
this, for should any danger befall her she 
had a peculiar cloud servant which she 
called "ao-opua." If Hina were in 
trouble this ao-opua would rise high 
above the falls, taking an unusual shape. 
When Maui saw this warning cloud he 



Page Fourteen 



would hurry home at once to his mother's 
side. 

One night while Maui was away from 
home on the Island of Maui, where he 
had gone to bargain with the Sun, a 
storm arose. The angry waters roared 
about the mouth of Hina's cave. They 
hissed and tossed in ugly blackness down 
the narrow river gorge; but Hina heard 
naught of the wildness without. Being 
used to the noisy cataract, her slumbers 
were not disturbed by the heightened 
tumult of its roar. 

But Kuna, quite aware of the situa- 
tion, was quick to take advantage and 
to act. Hina's apparent indifference an- 
noyed him. He recalled several failures 
to conquer her, and rage overwhelmed 
him. Calling upon his powers he lifted 
an immense boulder and hurled it over 
the cliffs. It fitted perfectly where it fell 
between the walls of the gorge and 
blocked the rush of the hurrying torrent. 

Laughing loudly at his success, Kuna 
called on Hina and warned her of her 
plight, but, still unknowing, Hina slept on 
until the cold waters entered the cave, 
rapidly creeping higher and higher until 
they reached her where she slept. 
Startled into wakefulness she sprang to 
her feet, and her cries of panic resounded 
against the distant hills. As the waters 



rai;o FlftiHMi 



rose higher her cries became more terri- 
fied until they reached the Island of 
Maui and the ears of her son. 

Through the darkness Maui could see 
the strange warning cloud, unusually large 
and mysterious. With his mother's cries 
ringing in his ears he bounded down the 
mountain to his canoe, which he sent 
across the sea to the mouth of the Wai- 
luku with two strong sweeps of his pad- 
dle. The long, narrow rock in the river 
below the Mauka Bridge, called Ka 
Waa o Maui (The Canoe of Maui), is 
still just where he ran it aground at the 
foot of the rapids. 

Seizing his magic club with which he 
had conquered the Sun, Maui rushed to 
the scene of danger. Seeing the rock 
blocking the river he raised his club and 
struck it a mighty blow. Nothing could 
resist the magic club! The rock split in 
two, allowing the strong current to rush 
unhindered on its way. 

Hearing the crash of the club and 
realizing his attempt on the life of 
Hina had again failed, Kuna turned and 
fled up the river. 

The remains of the great boulder, now 
known as Lonokaeho, overgrown with 
tropical plants and with the river rushing 
through the rift, lies there to this day as 
proof of Maui's prowess. 



Page Sixteen 



THE LAST OF KUNA. 

SO GREAT was the wrath of the 
demi-god Maui at the fell intent of 
Kuna to drown his mother that he vowed 
never to relent in his search for the mon- 
ster, and to kill him on sight. 

Kuna evidently sensed Maui's inten- 
tions, for as soon as he saw his great 
mischief undone he fled to a hiding-place 
far up the river. He realized then how 
great had been his folly and trembled at 
the thought of capture by the mighty 
demi-god. In spite of his magic powers 
Kuna knew Maui's anger to be far 
greater than all of them put together; 
still, he had countless secret hiding-places 
where it would be difficult to find him. 

He did not have long to wait in his 
secret lair before he heard the thundering 
voice of Maui commanding him to come 
forth. TTie earth shook with the heavy 
tread of the vengeful demi-god and the 
dreadful blows he dealt all obstacles he 
passed which might possibly conceal the 
form of his enemy. 

The thundering voice and quaking 
earth became more horrible and terrify- 
ing as Maui approached. Soon he stood 
before the hole in which Kuna lay hiding. 
Catching sight of the ugly monster with- 
in, Maui let out a deafening yell, poised 



Paso Seventeen 



his magic spear, and with on^ sweep of 
his mighty arm hurled it into the depths of 
Kuna's hiding-place. But the dragon 
was sly and agile, notwithstanding his 
huge bulk, and slipped out in time to 
save himself. 

Even today you can see the long hole 
— puka o Maui — which the demi-god's 
spear made through the lava beyond the 
cavern; sufficient evidence of the Her- 
culean strength with which the weapon 
was driven. Small wonder Kuna so 
feared a meeting with this outraged son 
of the goddess he had sought to drown. 

Wasting no time, Kuna started down 
stream, with Maui in hot pursuit. Often 
the dragon tried to conceal himself in 
some sheltered spot, or evade his pursuer 
by hiding behind a rock, but Maui gave 
him no rest, spearing him from one hole 
to another. 

Diving into one of several deep pools 
in the river, Kuna hoped that at last he 
was safely hidden. Maui was not to 
be thus easily fooled. He could see the- 
grotesque bulk of his enemy far below 
the surface of the gloomy water. Kuna 
was cornered. 

CalHng upon Pele, goddess of the 
Volcano, to send him hot stones and 
molten lava, Maui cast these into Kuna's 
retreat until the waters boiled furiously. 



Page Eighteen 



sending a vast column of steam far above 
the rim of the gorge. 

Known today as the Boiling Pots, al- 
though time has cooled their waters, they 
still bubble and surge as vigorously as 
ever, especially when the heavy rains 
come and remind them of the time when 
Kuna the Dragon sought refuge within 
their depths. 

Tough as the hide of Kuna was, it 
could not save him from the terrific heat 
generated by the red-hot rocks and lava 
cast into the pool by Maui. Nearly 
exhausted, the monster managed to drag 
himself from the cauldron and, shriek- 
ing horribly, he again took up his flight 
down stream. Maui sent torrents of boil- 
ing water after him, scalding at last the 
life from his ugly body. 

Then Maui rolled the huge carcass 
down the river to a point below Rain- 
bow Falls, within sight of his mother's 
home, where she could view daily the 
evidence that none might threaten her 
and live. And there the ungainly form 
lies today — a long, black-rock island 
known as Moo Kuna, between the 
rapids — where every freshet, every heavy 
rain, beats upon it as though in everlast- 
ing punishment for plotting the death of 
Hawaii's beloved goddess, Hina. 



ViXiXc Nineteen 



THE COMING OF PAOA. 

MANY years ago there lived on the 
Island of Tahiti several brothers, 
all very gifted and powerful gods of that 
land. One was by name Paoa. 

Now Tahitian customs were very 
like those of Hawaii at that time, in 
that the Tahitians offered human sacri- 
fices when a canoe or a heiau was in 
process of construction. How the ob- 
servance of this custom caused the flight 
of Paoa to Hawaii, you shall see. 

It so happened that one of the brothers 
was having a canoe built, and they were 
all undecided as to whom should be 
offered in sacrifice. A quarrel ensued. 
Paoa and the owner of the new canoe 
grew very bitter towards each other over 
it. When the time came for the sacri- 
fice Paoa's only son was taken and 
offered to the flames. 

Grief-stricken at the loss of his son and 
furious at the cruelty of his brother, Paoa 
decided to leave it all and seek peace on 
some other island. In preparation for the 
long journey by canoe he took only three 
things with him : two kinds of fish — the 
aku and opelu — and some pili grass. 

Journeying northward he encountered 
a terrific storm which grew more terrible 
as the days passed until it seemed the 



;*age Twenty 




Drawn by Will Herwiff. 



r avail is.' Eiig 



Paoa Stood Upon the Little Plot of Pili Grass 
As He Answered Her. 



low canoe could no longer breast the 
great mountains of angry water that bore 
down upon it as though to drive it under 
and swallow it into the black depths. 

Fearing for his safety, Paoa took the 
two kinds of fish and threw them over- 
side. Almost at once the mighty waves 
were calmed and the canoe went safely 
on its way surrounded by an area of 
calm, peaceful water while the storm 
raged on all sides a little distance away. 

Even today if you see a smooth area 
of water in the midst of a rough sea you 
will know that there is a school of aku 
or opelu very near the surface. 

So Paoa sailed safely through the 
storm. As soon as it subsided he called 
back the fish and placed them in his 
canoe once more. They had been very 
helpful and might be of use should the 
storm arise again. 

At last Paoa came to an island which 
appeared very large and was covered 
with vegetation. Paddling his canoe in- 
to a great crescent-shaped bay, he ob- 
served a river emptying into it and turned 
the nose of his tiny craft that way. Not 
far up the river he came to a long, 
low rock which he called Waa Kauhi, 
and landed on the southeastern side of 
its point. 



Page Twenty-two 



So great was the joy of Paoa upon 
reaching this beautiful island that he 
decided to make it his home. To com- 
memorate his safe landing he at once 
planted on the rock the pili grass he had 
brought with him. Also he liberated his 
aku and opelu fish in the new waters, 
where today their progeny teem in count- 
less millions. 

Very soon he built himself a grass hut 
for a home, and was careful to protect 
the pili grass, which grew rapidly and 
before long spread to other parts of the 
big island, where it throve even better 
than on the scant soil of the pahoehoe 
rock. 

Hawaiians soon learned to use the pili 
grass in house building, as it made a 
tighter thatch and lasted longer than the 
lauhala or the grasses to which they had 
been accustomed. The stems of the 
flowers were later used in weaving hats, 
as they, too, were firm and strong. 

Farther up the river, which Paoa 
learned was called the Wailuku, there 
lived the goddess Hina. Soon after the 
arrival of this stranger from Tahiti, Hina 
heard of him and his chosen home. Evi- 
dently he had not come to wage war or 
do harm to the people, for he had already 



I'a^i' 'L'wiMity-throe 



made friends with many cf the fishermen 
living near him. 

So Hina decided to see him for herself 
and went down to his home. She was 
surprised to find that he really had es- 
tablished himself on that low rock. 

"Why," she exclaimed, *'yo^ must not 
stay on this rock! Can't you see the 
waters above here are high? When the 
rains come you will be washed away and 
drowned. It is not safe!" 

Paoa stood upon the little plot of pili 
grass as he answered her. "No, I will 
not go away, for no matter how high the 
waters come they shall never cover this 
spot." 

From that day Paoa's word has held 
true. No matter how high the Wailuku 
rises, it never has covered the little plot 
of pili grass which still grows on the long, 
low rock at the river's mouth. 



Page Twenty -four 



MAUI AND THE ALAE BIRDS. 

MAUI, the eldest son of the goddess 
Hina, lived with his mother and 
two brothers in the cave behind Rain- 
bow Falls, in the Wailuku River Gorge, 
a short distance mauka of what is today 
the town of Hilo. Often the brothers 
would go fishing in the harbor. 

At this time the Hawaiians knew noth- 
ing about fire. All their food was eaten 
raw. Occasionally Maui had found in 
his various wanderings some bits of 
cooked banana and pondered over their 
delicious flavor. He could not under- 
stand what had been done to them until 
one day he came upon a group of little 
alae birds cooking bananas over a fire. 

He was so amazed at the scene that 
the birds had plenty of time to put out 
their fire and take wing before he could 
bring himself to action. This only 
aroused his ambitious nature and he 
vowed he would learn the secret of fire. 

In the days that followed he devised 
many cunning schemes to trap one of 
the alae birds, but they, too, were cun- 
ning and carefully refrained from building 
any fire when Maui was near. Once or 
twice while he was out fishing he had 
seen white puffs of smoke among the 
trees and knew the birds were preparing 



ViVAo TwiMitj-lho 



a feast, but he could never reach the 
place in time to catch any of them. 

One day he thought of a clever trick 
and took his brothers into his confidence. 
They fixed up a kalabash covered with 
tapa to resemble a man and placed it 
in the middle of Maui's canoe. Then the 
two brothers took their seats at either 
end of the canoe and paddled out into 
the harbor while Maui ran back and 
concealed himself in the woods. 

Soon the alae birds came circling 
overhead and Maui heard them say, 
*'At last we can make our fire and have 
a good feast. Maui and his two broth- 
ers are out for a day's fishing." 

Quivering with excitement, Maui 
crouched in his hiding-place and waited. 
Soon he heard the birds talking quite near 
him and, peeping out, saw them pushing 
fresh bananas into a blazing fire. Rush- 
ing into their midst he caught one of the 
birds. 

"Tell me how you make fire or you 
shall never go free!" he demanded. 

At first the bird was sullen and refused 
to answer, but at Maui's rough treat- 
ment resorted to trickery and replied, 
"Rub two taro stalks together and you 
shall have fire." 

Holding the bird closely, Maui did so. 



Page Twenty-six 



but only little drops of water came from 
the stalks. Very angry, Maui punished 
the bird again and demanded the truth. 
Helpless and exhausted, the poor alae 
told Maui to take two hau sticks and 
rub them together. 

Maui found the hau sticks, but fear- 
ing the bird was not telling the truth, he 
rubbed its head with one of the sticks 
until a drop of blood trickled out, stain- 
ing the tuft of feathers on its crest. But 
the bird persisted in this statement, so 
Maui began rubbing the sticks together. 
Little sparks appeared and caught fire 
to the dead leaves on which they fell. 

Overjoyed at his discovery, Maui set 
the bird free. But to this day every alae 
bird wears the symbol of punishment for 
telling its secret — a tuft of red feathers 
on the top of its head. 



'rwi-nty-sover 



MAUrS KITE. 

MAUI, the great demi-god of Ha- 
waii, was restless. Time hung 
heavy on his hands. Uneventful days of 
quiet had fallen upon the land. Adven- 
ture seemed to be in hiding, and no ex- 
ploit invited to service this active young- 
ster's shining spear or magic club. Idle- 
ness grew more and more unbearable. 

Now Laamaomao, god of the winds, 
dwelt not far above Rainbow Falls in 
the beautiful gorge of the Wailuku and 
to him Maui confided his discontent. The 
old fellow admitted that times were dull. 
Not for a long time had he been called 
upon for blasts from his greater windpot, 
Ipunui. On the heels of this remark 
came inspiration, and he suggested that 
Maui fashion a large kite. He, Laa- 
maomao, would see to it that a suitable 
wind be forthcoming and excitement suf- 
ficient to break the dull monotony of too 
peaceful days. 

So Maui set about the construction of 
an enormous kite. His mother, the god- 
dess Hina, made for him a beautiful and 
strong tapa, and twisted fibres of the 
olona into a stout cord. From the rich 
red wood of the koa expert and willing 
hands put together a graceful frame, and 
in due time the big plaything was ready. 



;e Twenty-eight 



Laamaomao, having fathered the idea, 
manifested a keen interest in the proceed- 
ings and had his windpots in readiness 
for the initial flight. 

Calling Ipuiki, smaller of his two wind- 
pots, into action, Laamaomao directed a 
steady, gentle breeze up the gorge against 
the breast of the great kite, cautioning 
those who held it to be in readiness to 
let go at the proper moment and re- 
minding Maui to have a care lest the 
olona cord slip through his hands. 

Gracefully the birdHke thing rose into 
the brilliant turquoise sky — that same sky 
which today so enchants the malihini — 
and as it tugged at the line, dipped, rose 
again and circled about, the thrill of it 
came down the cord to Maui's hands 
and his delight knew no bounds. 

Often in the quiet days that followed 
did Maui amuse himself with the big 
kite. As he grew more familiar with its 
handling the impetuous demi-god would 
ask Laamaomao for winds from Ipunui 
and glory in the tussle his kite gave him 
when buffeted by these stronger blasts — 
even though wise old Laamaomao was 
careful to moderate their power. 

Sometimes Maui would tire of his 
sport and, drawing its cord through a 
round hole in a rock which lay in the 
center of a small lake near the wind 



Pago Twenty-nine 




Brawn by \\ IF 



I Use Erig. 



Old Laamaomao, the Wind God, Admitted That 
Times Were Dull. 



caves, would leave his kite to its own 
devices while he slept. 

On one such occasion Laamaomao, 
having received an order for a great 
storm, forgot all about Maui's kite and 
turned loose his most powerful wind from 
Ipunui. All night long it howled through 
the creaking trees, driving the rain before 
it in lashing sheets. Stout as it was, the 
olona cord with which Maui's big kite 
was moored could not long withstand the 
strain and finally parted, leaving the 
kite to the mercy of the winds. Tossed 
madly about in the storm, it was carried 
far across the flank of Mauna Loa and 
dropped into the sea off the shore of 
Kau. 

Now Puuanuhe, the much-dreaded liz- 
ard-woman, made her home on the 
shores of the Kau desert, and to her ears 
had come the wonderful story of Maui's 
kite, fanning an already hot jealousy of 
the young demi-god and his doings. 
Puuanuhe was the only creature of those 
days who had fiery red hair, and her 
temper was none the less caloric. 

So when she saw this strange object 
floating in the water near her home on 
the morning after the storm she recog- 
nized it as Maui's kite. Chuckling in 
vicious satisfaction at this chance oppor- 
tunity to make trouble for the handsome 



rase Thirty-one 



son of Hina, Puuanuhe hid the kite in 
the rough hills back of Hilea. 

Great was Maui's surprise and con- 
sternation when he found his kite gone. 
He at once set out in search of it. Days 
passed without trace of it, but one day 
news came to him that Puuanuhe had 
been seen with a large kite. He knew it 
must be his, as there was none other so 
big. 

Arriving at Hilea he discovered the 
hideous read-headed lizard-woman, who 
admitted she had found his kite, but re- 
fused to enlighten him as to its where- 
abouts. This same creature had lured 
many a poor fisherman to death on the 
rocky coast of Kau, and Maui thought 
it high time to put an end to such a pest, 
so he killed her. 

Once more he took up his search for 
his beloved kite and soon found it clever- 
ly hidden in the hills. Ironically he 
named the spot Puuanuhe, and returning 
home with his precious toy he fastened it 
securely to its moorings again. 

Even today you can see the immense 
kite, now turned to stone, just as Maui 
hauled it in for the last time and left it. 
It is seventy-five feet long and about 
forty-five feet wide, narrowing to eighteen 
feet at one end. At the narrow end is 
a crystal-clear lake, very deep and 



Page Thirty-two 



smooth as glass. In its center is a large, 
round stone projecting above the sur- 
face with a two-inch aperture in the mid- 
dle where Maui used to make his kite 
string fast. 

Near this lake are the two windpots, 
Ipunui and Ipuiki, and a little way be- 
low are three very distinct foot-prints, 
each fifteen inches long, showing where 
Maui stood while flying his great kite. 



Pago Thirty-three 



MAUrS FISH-HOOK. 

MAUI, the powerful young demi-god 
who dwelt with his mother, the god- 
dess Hina, in the great cave behind Rain- 
bow Falls, had succeeded in so many 
hazardous undertakings, and had the 
welfare of his people so much at heart, 
that he resolved upon what was to be his 
greatest deed of prowess and beneficence. 

Now Maui had a magic fish-hook 
which he cleverly used while fishing with 
his brothers. Maui was very sly and 
quick, but he was never a good fisherman. 
He would sit in the canoe and drag his 
hook through the water, catching no fish 
himself but snagging those his brothers 
caught and laughing merrily at their be- 
wildered expressions when they pulled 
in their lines and found nothing. 

TTiey distrusted Maui, for he would 
never let them see his hook, yet they knew 
it was shaped differently from theirs. 
It was more complicated and had a dou- 
ble barb, while the common fish-hook had 
but one. But his brothers could never 
catch him at his tricks. 

At last they no longer allowed him to 
accompany them on their fishing trips, 
as he took all the fish and honors, and 
they all knew — Maui included — that he 
did not deserve them. So Maui would 



Page Thirty-four 



go alone to the bay, but the hook re- 
mained idle in the bottom of his magic 
canoe which, as related in the legend of 
Kuna, he drove from the shores of the 
Island of Maui to the mouth of the Wai- 
luku with two sweeps of his paddle. 

While drifting about Maui watched 
some of his people who were not blessed 
with magic canoes, and considered the 
hard paddling required to send them 
through the water. 

One day as he sat in his canoe watch- 
ing another pass by, evidently on its way 
to a neighboring island, the demi-god 
wondered if it might not make things 
easier to have all the islands joined to- 
gether, so people could travel to any part 
of the kingdom without the laborious 
canoe voyages. 

Calling a meeting of Hawaii's chiefs 
and strong men Maui informed them of a 
plan to draw all the islands together. 
He told them he would need their help 
in pulling the islands, but no matter how 
hard or how long they pulled they must 
never look back to see how much was 
being accomplished until the islands were 
firmly joined together. 

The men solemnly promised to obey 
Maui and at once proceeded to their 
new task. The island now known as 
Maui was selected for the first attempt. 



ruso Thirty-five 



Maui fastened his magic fish-hook into 
that part of the land nearest Hawaii, 
and at his command the strong men and 
chiefs paddled with all their might. 
Slowly the island moved behind them. 

No one dared look around, though all 
were burning with curiosity to see the 
result of their struggles< Long and stead- 
ily they paddled until the two islands 
were only a few feet apart. Then one 
of the chiefs could no longer control his 
curiosity and looked around. 

In an instant the charm was broken. 
The island slid back through the sea to 
its former position in spite of all that Maui, 
chiefs and strong men could do to stop it. 
Only a small piece of land was left — that 
in which the fish-hook was still deeply 
imbedded. Today that bit of land is 
covered with lauhala trees and coconut 
palms, and is known as Coconut Island. 

So great was Maui's disappointment at 
this his first failure in any important enter- 
prise that he would not try again. He 
said his fish-hook had lost its charm and 
sorrowfully he took it away with him in 
his canoe. He carried it up the Wailuku 
River to his home behind Rainbow Falls, 
where he grieved for many days over the 
unsuccessful attempt. Later, having no 
more use for the hook, he carried it away 



Page Thirty-six 



from the cave and threw it into the forest 
near his home, where it lay undisturbed 
until the haole came. 

To those early settlers the magic fish- 
hook of Maui was of less interest as such 
than as material for masonry, and not a 
piece of it remains. At the forks of the 
Piihonua-Kaumana road one may, how- 
ever, see the peculiar-shaped depression 
where it lay for so long before civiliza- 
tion's vanguard swept the tangled jungle 
of Maui's time from its hiding-place. 



Vdge Tliiity-sevcn 




Drawn by Will Herwig. 



Paradise Eng. 



But the Strange Woman Smiled and Told 
Them to Uncover the Imu. 



HINA KEAHI. 

JUST mauka of the Hilo Boarding 
School are three large, rounded hills 
which, centuries ago, were mud craters. 
Covered with the green of rustling cane- 
tops, at a distance they appear to be 
soft, grassy mounds. Many a tourist, 
gazing from the deck of an incoming 
ship, has yearned to "stroll over those 
smooth, rolling hills," only to find the 
pastime quite impossible on nearer view, 
which revealed the "velvety grass" as 
lusty sugar cane stalks ten to fifteen feet 
high and closely interwoven. 

But now the last crop of cane has 
been harvested from these graceful 
mounds and their slopes are being pre- 
pared to receive the dwelling-houses of 
any who choose — and can afford — to live 
in the rarified atmosphere of romance 
that hangs about this Hawaiian Olym- 
pus. 

Nor is the term Olympus as applied 
to these hills a redundant flight of fancy. 
Long ago — many, many years before the 
haole came to plant his sugar cane in 
their deep, rich soil — these hills were the 
homes of several beautiful goddesses. 

The makai and largest hill, called 
Halai, was the home of Hina Keahi, 
eldest daughter of the goddess Hina, who 



rujjo Thirty -nine 



lived at Waianuenue — the cave behind 
Rainbow Falls in the Wailuku River — 
and sister of Maui the demi-god. To 
Hina Keahi was given power over fire. 

In many ways this young goddess 
aided her people, bestowing upon them 
the blessing of protection from fire while 
teaching them many ways in which to 
use it. TTie remarkable fact has often 
been noted, by the way, that although 
the Hawaiians always lived in grass 
houses, seldom was one known to be 
destroyed by fire. Hina Keahi was well 
beloved by her people and her lightest 
commands were obeyed meticulously. 

Food had always been plentiful in 
Hawaii. The people cultivated their 
fields, which yielded bountifully. But 
one time the crops failed — grew smaller 
and smaller — and began to shrivel up 
and die. Soon a famine spread over 
the land. Crops were allowed to wholly 
perish because none was strong enough 
to tend them. 

Hina Keahi saw that unless something 
was done at once her beloved followers 
would all die. Calling them about her 
she commanded that an immense imu 
be dug in the top of Halai Hill. ''Pre- 
pare a place for each kind of food as 
though you were ready to fill the imu. 



Page Forty 



then bring as much firewood as you can," 
she ordered. 

The starving people summoned new 
strength at this promise and worked for 
many days preparing the enormous imu. 
Knowing a human sacrifice would be 
offered as the only possible result of 
their labors, they lived in fear and won- 
dered who would be chosen. Still, they 
never once thought of deserting their 
work and finally everything was in readi- 
ness. 

"Fill the imu with wood and heat it," 
commanded Hina. 

As soon as this was done she turned 
to the wondering people and said: "Lis- 
ten to what I tell you, and follow my in- 
structions. It is the only way you can 
be saved from starvation. I will step 
into the imu and you must quickly cover 
me with earth. Do not stop throwing 
earth over me until the last puff of smoke 
disappears. In three days a woman will 
appear at the edge of the imu and tell 
you what to do." 

Bidding them farewell, Hina Keahi 
stepped quickly into the red-hot imu. 
Immediately a dense white cloud of 
smoke surrounded and concealed her. 
For a moment the people stood trans- 
fixed at the sight; but remembering in- 



Piisc Forty-one 



structions they at once began covering the 
imu with earth. 

Followed then three long days of 
waiting fraught with mingled hopeful ex- 
pectancy and anxiety for their goddess. 
On the third day everyone repaired to 
the edge of the imu and awaited the 
appearance of the woman of whom Hina 
Keahi had spoken. 

In the meantime Hina Keahi had not 
remained in the imu for long. The fire 
had not harmed her, for she had complete 
power over it. Going underground she 
made her way toward the sea, coming to 
the surface of the earth somewhere near 
the spot on which the Hilo Boarding 
School stands today. The place was 
marked by a bubbling spring. 

Once more she disappeared under- 
ground and again came to the surface, 
creating another spring near the present 
location of the Hilo Hotel. A third 
time the goddess followed her subter- 
ranean route, coming up in a third spring 
at the place now occupied by the Ameri- 
can Factors' lumber yard. Refreshing 
herself in the clear waters, she started 
back to her home, this time traveling 
above ground. 

Thus on the third day from the dis- 
appearance of Hina Keahi those gath- 
ered about the imu saw a strange woman 



Page Fortj'-tvvo 



approaching from the direction of the 
sea. As she drew near they noticed a 
striking resemblance to their own goddess, 
yet she, they knew, was buried in the 
imu. In fear they drew away, but the 
strange woman smiled and told them to 
uncover the imu. 

Reluctantly they set to work, dreading 
the sight which all had in mind. But 
when the imu was uncovered they found 
it filled with cooked food — enough to sup- 
ply their needs until the rains came and 
new crops could be grown and harvested. 
In gratitude they turned to thank the 
strange woman, but she had vanished. 

And to this day one may see the im- 
mense imu in the top of Halai Hill, now 
overgrown with a thicket of feathery 
bamboo, which the people left open in 
memory of their timely deliverance. 



Pago Forty-thref 



HINA KULUUA. 

HINA KULUUA was the second 
daughter of the goddess Hina, who 
lived behind Rainbow Falls. Hina 
Keahi, the elder sister, had received the 
best of the gifts which their mother could 
bestow — power over fire and ownership 
of the largest of the Halai hills. Known 
as the goddess of fire, Hina Keahi was 
indeed very powerful and one time gave 
spectacular evidence of it in saving her 
people from starvation, as told in the 
legend, Hina Keahi. 

Naturally everyone looked upon her 
thereafter as the most wonderful goddess 
in the Islands. Even her sister's little 
band of followers did not refrain from 
open admiration of the beautiful fire 
goddess. 

This made Hina Kuluua exceedingly 
angry. Her jealousy overwhelmed her; 
she could not bear to let her sister claim 
so much glory, and she have none at all. 

It was not long after this that an- 
other famine swept the land. Hina Ku- 
luua thought fortune was at last coming 
her way. Here was the very opportunity 
she craved. Now she would prove her 
power superior to her sister's and all the 
people would sing her praises and wor- 
ship her alone. 



Page Forty-four 



In her excitement she entirely over- 
looked the fact that she was goddess of 
rain, and not of fire. She ordered an 
immense imu to be dug in her own hill, 
Puu Honu. Comprehending her inten- 
tions the people at once reaHzed the 
utter futility of her proposed action and 
pleaded with her against it; but to no 
avail. 

"Do you mean to tell me that my power 
is less than Hina Keahi's?" she de- 
manded angrily. "Do you think that I, 
Hina Kuluua, cannot do as much for 
my people in their time of need? I will 
show you! Then you shall recognize 
Hina Kuluua as the greatest goddess in 
Hawaii." 

"You can help as well and perhaps 
better than your sister," they argued, 
"but you cannot do it in the same way. 
Your power, though it may be as great, 
is nevertheless entirely different from hers." 

Then Hina Kuluua would order them 
out of her sight and command them to 
hurry the completion of the imu. 

At last all was ready. A group with 
tear-stained faces were gathered about the 
smoking imu. Hina Kuluua approached, 
her head held high in an air of triumph. 
She stepped to the edge of the imu, cast 
a glance of disdain toward the wailing 



women and said, "Cover me quickly. 
Watch near the imu and in three days a 
young woman will appear. She will 
give you further instructions." 

Stepping into the imu she was quickly 
covered with soil. The people had ex- 
pected a cloud of smoke to appear, but 
were somewhat surprised to see the little 
there already was become even thinner 
and dwindle away to mere nothingness. 

Slowly the long days of waiting 
passed. Tlie third day dawned. All 
morning the people watched for signs 
from the imu. Late in the afternoon 
found their vigilance unbroken; night 
closed in and still no sign. Dawn once 
more, another day of anxiety. On the 
fifth day they could no longer restrain 
themselves and cautiously uncovered the 
great oven. 

A dark greyish cloud rose over the 
imu — that was all. Within, the people 
could distinguish the charred remains of 
their proud goddess. With reverence 
they covered the imu once more and 
carefully smoothed it over. 

That is why today you cannot see a 
deep crater in Puu Honu as in Halai, 
and why the dark, gloomy cloud — a sure 
sign of rain — often hangs low over the 
one-time home of Hina Kuluua. 



Page Forty -six 



THE FIRST LAW. 

FOLLOWING one of his great vic- 
tories King Kamehameha I es- 
tablished his court on the largest island 
of the Hawaiian group, Hawaii, and 
prepared to make his headquarters there 
for the time. Of course a heiau must be 
built, and he ordered construction to be- 
gin immediately, selecting a site near the 
mouth of the Wailuku where today 
stands the armory of the National Guard 
of Hawaii. 

This heiau was unusually large and 
considerable time was consumed in build- 
ing it. Finally it was completed, but 
before it could be used the customary 
human sacrifice had to be offered. Not 
willing to take one of his own men, 
the king went in search of another. 

Early one morning, accompanied by 
a small body of his warriors, Kameha- 
meha set out in his canoe, sailing along 
the coast in the direction of Puna. As 
the royal party neared Leleiwi Point, 
two fishermen in a small outrigger were 
discovered, busy with their nets. The 
king's big war canoe bore down upon 
them, but recognizing the royal craft 
from afar, they paddled lustily for the 
shore. Knowing the heiau was nearing 
completion the fishermen guessed the 



ruRo Foity-seven 




Drawn by Will Herwig. 



Paradise Eng. 



""Mamalahoa Kanawai o na Alii" Kamehameha 
Called After Them. 



reason for the king's early morning visit 
and had no intention of remaining to re- 
ceive him. 

Landing safely, yet with the prow of 
the big canoe not a spear's length behind, 
the poor fellows made all speed over the 
open lava beds that lie between the shore 
and the jungle at this point. The king, 
standing in the bow of his canoe, was 
first ashore and in hot pursuit, but, un- 
familiar with the footing there, made 
poor progress. These lava beds are full 
of treacherous pukas and into one of 
them Kamehameha stumbled, sinking to 
his armpits. There chanced to be a 
sizeable stone within reach of his hand, 
and this he hurled after the fleeing men, 
but his aim was bad and he missed them. 
This very stone, and the hole into which 
the king fell, may still be seen just mauka 
of Leleiwi Point. 

Glancing over his shoulder, the hind- 
most fugitive observed the king was 
trapped and that his retainers were still 
some distance to the rear. Here was a 
chance for revenge. Swinging his heavy 
canoe paddle, which he had been too 
frightened to drop, the fisherman turned 
and dealt his majesty a cruel blow on 
the head and, leaving him for dead, 
made off at top speed after his com- 
panion. 



rase Forty-nine 



When his men came up, the king was 
just regaining consciousness. One look 
at their wounded monarch sent them Hke 
a pack of hungry wolves after the fish- 
ermen. 

"Mamalahoa Kanawai o na alii!'* 
Kamehameha called after them. "Who- 
ever purposely murders a fellowman shall 
be hanged." 

And thus the very first law was made 
in Hawaii. 

"Let them go, ' he said, as his men 
reluctantly abandoned the chase. "I am 
not much harmed and they are badly 
frightened now. They may never do 
violence again to anyone. If any man 
hereafter wilfully take the life of another 
he shall be hanged. Come, let us go 
back. My heiau will not require a hu- 
man sacrifice, for it shall never be used.'* 

So it happened that this was the first 
heiau ever built without its human sacri- 
fice, and the last one constructed on the 
Island. Once the law forbidding mur- 
der was enforced heiaus were no longer 
needed. 

For the first time on Hawaii trails be- 
came safe for travelers. Always there- 
tofore one never knew at what moment 
an enemy in ambush might rob him or 
take his life. Women and children could 
now go abroad at all times in safety. 



Page Fifty 



Peace reigned in the land and the 
people became more prosperous and 
progressive. Years passed before the 
law was broken, and, true to his word — 
for the king's word was law — Kameha- 
meha ordered the murderer hanged. The 
scene of his execution was the unusually 
crooked coconut tree which until recent 
years stood near the present site of a 
cracker factory on what is now Kame- 
hameha Avenue. 

Today a careful observer may, by 
peering beneath the Armory Hall, make 
out the few remaining stones which were 
once a part of the foundation of the last 
heiau built on Hawaii. 

PAU. 



Viv^o Fifty-one 



HOW TAPA IS MADE. 

I 'HIS volume of Hawaiian Legends is bound 

* in genuine tapa, a cloth — or more properly 

speaking a strong paper — made by hand from the 

inner bark of the wild mulberry. Briefly, the 

process of manufacture is as follows: 

When full of glutinous sap, the bark of the 
mulberry is stripped and sjeeped in running 
water until the outer layer is softened. This is 
scraped away and the inner bark beaten with 
corrugated paddles of palm wood until strips two 
or three inches broad are widened to ten or 
twelve inches. 

The edges of these strips are then pasted 
together with a strong vegetable glue and lami- 
nated with more beating. So skillfully is this done 
that it is impossible to detect the lines of jointure. 

The tapa used in binding this book is of the 
stout, heavy grade; but that used for clothing and 
scarfs is often as sheer as fine muslin. 

Tapa making is confined entirely to the 
women, men never occupying themselves with 
any of its processes. 



Page Fifty -two 



GLOSSARY 

Hawaiian words may be easily pronounced 

correctly by using the Spanish alpliabet. 

There are no silent letters, and all syllables 

are stressed equally. 

Alae (Hawaiian gallinule) : Native bird fig- 
uring largely in Hawaiian legends. 

Ao-opua: Talisman, guardian spirit. 

Haleakala: House (hale) of the Sun (la). 

Haole: White man. 

Hau: Native tree much favored for lanais 
(arbors) and the wood for outriggers on 
canoes and floats for its cork-like light- 
ness. (Hibiscus arnottianus). 

Heiau: Ancient Hawaiian temple. 

Honu: Turtle, turtle-shaped. 

Imu: Underground stove made by scooping 
a hole in the ground, lining it with rock^s, 
and building a fire in it. The food to be 
cooked is placed in the heated cavern, 
which is then covered tightly with leaves 
and earth. 

Kaipaaloa: Inlet or estuary where the sea 
is quiet. 

Keahi: Of the fire. 

Kuluua: Of the (gentle) rain. 

Lauhala: Leaf (lau) of the puhala tree 
(Pandanus odoratissimus). 

Makai: Toward the sea. 

Malihini: Stranger, foreigner. 

Mamake: Shrub about ten feet high (Pip- 
turus albidus). 

Mamalahoa kanawai o na alii: Your king 
proclaims this the law of the land (free 
translation). 

Mauka: Toward the mountains. 



PiiKo Fifty -throe 



Olona: Native flax (Touchardia latifolia). 

Pahoehoe: The sterile, flintlike lava as dis- 
tinguished from aa, the friable and highly 
fertile lava. 

Pan: The end, finished. 

Pili: Grass yielding stout fibres (Andro- 
pogon contortus). 

Puka: Doorway, entrance, hole. 

Puu: Small hill, usually of rounded form. 

Ti (formerly written ki) : Plant of lily 
family having bright green leaves three 
feet long and six inches wide (Cordyline 
terminalis). 

Waianuenue: Shimmering waters, as a rain- 
bow effect. 

Wauke: Native mulberry tree (Brousson- 
etia papyrifera). 



Page Fifty-four 



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